David Halperin: What is Sex For?

The acclaimed theorist in gender studies, queer theory, and critical theory David M Halperin will be coming to the University of Minnesota to present his talk, What is Sex For? David is a professor of the history and theory of sexuality at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and has written/edited many impactful books including: How to be Gay, Gay Shame, Saint Foucault: Towards a Gay Hagiography, How to do the History of Homosexuality, The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader, and many many more. David Halperin is a rockstar in the field of gender theory and it is likely that you have read one of his pieces without even knowing it. Here's David Halperin's description of his talk: "Does sex have any erotic purpose? The greatest philosophers of classical antiquity said no. I examine one of their arguments, which offers a serious challenge to modern interpretations of love, including but not limited to psychoanalytic interpretations, that understand love in sexual terms and that view all erotic desire as an expression of sexuality. I argue that some contemporary gay male writing represents a singular effort to work through the confusions and the anguish that the modern sexualization of erotic desire has bequeathed to us." RSVP to this opportunity to meet and hear David Halperin's amazing ideas. Q&A will follow David's talk.